462 square feet

It seems that everything in Europe is small living. They have to laugh at that show "tiny house" because seriously, this is how people live here in the cities. I noticed it in Paris, Brugge & Amsterdam. That's right, it was ME peeking in your windows at night because you left your curtains ever so open for my curious eyes. I can't help but admire your tiny artsy kitchen, Amsterdam hipster. Or your chandelier and antique furniture traditional Bruggean. Our 900 square feet seems gigantic in comparison. I realize I'm a mere grasshopper and I must continue to "wax on wax off" for many more years. I can't wait to come back & and learn more ways to live smartly small & peek in your window. 

Much to the peacock's dislike, I have now been cursed with the travel urge. We leave Europe tomorrow & My son & I have already been planning the next big trip. However, it will be several years out, as I need to have all family members fully potty trained & able to walk on their own without being carried. Oh, and Europe isn't all that cheap. 

It's been a wonderful trip with more painting to come once I get home. However, I must confess; painting was very hard to do during this vacation. (Blogging even more so) We kept fairly busy being tourist & at the end of a full day of sights & walking, I only wanted to sleep. Also, young children need attention. Who knew?

I also must confess that although I love vacation & Europe & can't wait for the next big trip, I'm ready to go home to my own food, bed, & routine. I need my kids to go back to school.....ASAP! And the peacock needs his bike rides. 

We all need the peacock to have his bikes rides! 

But before we leave here's a bit more Paris journaling. 

Eiffel & Seine (2015) 

Water color journal

Jardin Des Tuileries (2015)

Water color journal

Paris Cafe (2015)

Water color journal 

Eiffel (2015)

Water color journal

Bonjour, 

-Cheree 

We're not Catholics, we're tourists

The city of Paris is divided into different arrondissements. We stayed in the 5th arrondissement, which is the Latin quarter. Paris has so much history here, the Latin quarter is best known for La Sobonne and the pantheon. But I know it best for saint severin church (Eglise saint sulpice). This is where that crazy priest, Silas from the DaVinci Code went to find the keystone. I enjoy conspiracy/DaVinci type shows & let me tell you, Paris is screaming with codes! 

Codes & tourist! 

My next trip here will be purely investigative of all Mary Magdalene conspiracy theories. 

Anyway, I believe this was the perfect place for us to inhabit during our Paris part of our trip. Our apartment we rented over looked saint severin church (so I was super excited to watch for Silas types) & we could see the top of the Eiffel Tower from our window. Interestingly our apartment was once inhabited by a famous German writer / playwright Bertolt Brecht. But the best part was we were in walking distance to Norte Dame (&this awesome market that made these little lemon meringue tortes.)

But I digress. 

Now, we are not catholic, but we are tourists & this was a must see!  This cathedral is breath taking in its size & beauty. The lines to get in however, are atrocious! Not as bad as the Eiffel Tower lines, but definitely at least an hour wait. We however, got up early one morning to avoid lines at the Louve (also atrocious lines) and on our way noticed that Norte Dame had NO lines! No lines! We went in, line free....and well worth it. The stained glass is impressively beautiful both on the inside and out. During the night the cathedral glows a yellowish green & street performers abound. 

                                                Norte Dame Paris (2015)

                                                Water color journal 9x7 

 

Norte Dame is a definite must see, despite your religious conspiracy. I'd now like to leave you with this triumphant quote from the movie Rudy. (Who played for the fighting Irish) 

"We're gonna go inside, we're gonna go outside, inside and outside. We're gonna get 'em on the run, boys, and once we get 'em on the run, we're gonna keep 'em on the run. And then we're gonna go go go go go go and we're not gonna stop 'til we get across that goal line. This is a team they say is... is good. Well, I think we're better than them. They can't lick us, so what do you say, men?"

It's best to think this way when tackling the lines in Paris. 

-Cheree 

I left my paint in Dresden

Wow, has it been a long time since I got my blog on. There's been no time to sit & between the jet leg & the exhaustion from site seeing, there was NO WAY 4am was going to happen (4am Denver time, maybe). I really have had no concept of the time over here.

But that's vacation.

First stop on the "official" vacation.....Dresden, Germany.
Dresden is in eastern Germany & we rented a car & drove from Frankfurt to Dresden in 3 & 1/2 hours. Let me tell you, driving in Germany on the autobahn is awesomely amazing. There are no slow assholes Sunday strolling in the left lane. It's all business! Left lanes for passing. Business, All business! It's fast & extremely efficient. You get where you need without yelling, screaming, & throwing the bird....maybe just a couple "German stare downs" for warning.

We got to Dresden  & the architecture was stunning. A bit of history about Dresden is that it was bombed completely to a flattened ground during WW2. Brief history gives over view of The bombing of Dresden.

For a first hand account & a great read click Here

Dresden, Germany 2015

9x7 watercolor & ink (water color journal) 

Anyway, leaving Dresden after 2 days I sat down to paint this picture of this beautiful city I'd sketched & realized.... Oh crap! I left my paints in the hotel in Dresden. 

Crap! Crap! Crap! 

Deep breath, you'll be okay. 

This actually ended up working out splendidly for me, as I drug the family to Sennelier. This is the oldest art store in Paris. It was well worth losing paints over. I went in this tiny little shop & had a French "artist" who works at the store give me a tsssst, when I said I'd like to look at both student & professional water color. I can't help but piss off French people with my indecisiveness. I really don't care if I make him have to do his job. I want my paints & I want them to be good ones! 

He warmed up to me......I think? 

Well, I saw beautiful Dresden, I got my paints, pissed off the French, not bad for a first few days in Europe. 

-Cheree 

To everything, TURN, TURN, TURN....

It has officially been 1 month since I started this painting. This Large painting! Although, I am enjoying it tremendously, it has somewhat become my "kitchen remodel". This meaning, that once I paint one detail, I realize that I need to add another one or fix something else to have it look right. It's a necessary cycle. I've taken several "breaks" from this one and have often woken up in the morning to work on it, only to find that I have drank a pot of tea and all I've done is sit and stare at it. I've been stuck. I've made some breakthroughs. I've been utterly annoyed, I've walked away, and yet have completely found joy with it all.
"A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace
A time to refrain from embracing"

For the past week I've only been working on this guy (no other littles). I tell you this, because I've had a few people ask when I'm going to post again. And, since I suffer from ADD..(see ADD flare)
I have decided NOT to intermix the little paintings for now, and I'm going to spend this whole next week finishing it!

This painting was the kick off start to me getting back into painting again after 20 years away. I sketched it out 6 months ago, (6 MONTHS AGO!) during the goldfish's nap.....the next thing you know I'm on Craigslist buying an easel and down $200 in art supplies.....(this number might be greatly deflated).

I'm very excited to TURN this thing around soon! Because I do think it's getting close.

In the meantime, here is a couple little snippets off my "kitchen remodel".

It is the season. 

Turn, Turn, Turn. 

-Cheree 

On Wisconsin, On Wisconsin, Plunge right through that line!

Every time I take a trip to see my in-laws, I make the peacock take me to the UW campus and State Street in Madison, WI.
Why you ask?
I like my in-laws, I didn't go to school there.

It's all because it is F ing awesome. I really can't get enough of State street and the qwirky little shops. But, Memorial Terrace (can we go to the place with all the colored chairs) is my favorite. I really can't explain as to why. I just really like the whole atmosphere. I kinda want to go be 22 again and be a UW hipster. (Actually, I really just want to be a hipster).

Oh, and I forgot to mention, The Chairs. The CHAIRS!  The wonderful colored chairs. All the chairs appear to be having the time of their life, conversing, hipstering, living the life of a social butterfly, independently wealthy professional students.

I want to be a UW chair........

"So, I told Sam, I'm totally done just sitting here and listening to bullshit. I mean, it's time for me to move on." -Yellow chair
"Word, I know what you mean, moving on over was the best thing for me. I mean I was somewhat forced to move, like dragged, but still, it was the best move ever." -Orange chair

On the Terrace (2015) Madison, WI

Watercolor Journal 

"Tomorrow, I'm totally gonna do it. I'm totally gonna jump in the lake.....like naked this time. It's gonna be awesome!" -Yellow chair
"You totally should." -Green chair
"I know, it'll be all #cannonball #terracechairstyle #chairsaway #sittindippin......

Overlooking the Lake (2015) Madison, WI

Watercolor Journal 

#chairishthemoment, #chairiobeaches

#cheree

The Queen- A semi self portrait (Ok, self portrait)

Ok, so this just might be a self portrait in a sense of how I act at the ballpark. Not so much at Coors field (Ok, maybe a little at Coors), but mostly at my son's games. I can't really help it though, sometimes baseball requires a royal intervention.

And here's a story as to why.

A few weeks back my son's team, the Stars, had made it into the semi finals for their machine pitch 8 and under league. Not an easy feat. For months I have been taking him to practice & watching, not only him, but the other 6-8year olds working on their game with dreams of making it in the Major leagues one day. Those who shuffle kids to sports know the sacrifice it takes to get them there and ALL the investment.

Now here's where I get pissed...."off with your head pissed!"

My son's team played this team we will call....."Win at all costs" or WAAC for short. (Because that's what it was, WAAC, ass, crazy). WAAC played 2 pitchers, & 3, YES 3 extra outfielders.....now WTF comes to mind, I know, because that's what all of us parents & coaches said. But heaven forbid some kids have to sit on the bench....
WTF are we doing to our children?!?!? I mean really. This is a tournament baseball league! This is baseball! What really are you teaching them? Baseball is F ing hard. It's best to learn that now. Oh, and news flash, Life is hard and, there are people on the bench and people working hard, really F ing hard.

Just writing this makes my blood boil. Our coaches asked the other team to play fair with 9 on 9. They did not. "Off With YOUR HEAD!" So our team played 9 on 13. The peacock, of course,  went ape shit over the fairness of this game (was threatened to be kicked out for questioning the fairness of WAAC) & how can all these adults think this is an okay way to teach children sportsmanship & the game of baseball? How can all these parents watch little kids be treated so unfairly. I mean you're keeping score, counting 3 outs, counting 3 strikes, but play 13 players...that makes no sense. In fact it is nonsense. NONSENSE! Anyway, we were ahead until the last inning. We lost in the last inning by 2 runs. Life isn't fair & sometimes people cheat & win. Sometimes you play against a stacked deck. And you battle hard, only to come up frustrated and short. But eventually....eventually, I know David beats Goliath, it's either that or its off with their heads. Which ever comes first.

Off with their heads (Coors field) (2015)

Acrylic on canvas 6x6

Wonderland Denver 

I'm pretty sure my son is already over this, for me, well........... 
" I warn you, child... if I lose my temper, you lose your head! Understand?" -Queen of Hearts

-Cheree

Dancing, Fighting , and Forgiving Mathematics

I read on the internet that Alice in Wonderland was originally about the author's field of study, math....Math, really?!  (click this link to see). Math link (This is a great read)
I always thought this book was about drugs or just some really crazy fantasy dream with wild subliminal messages. But math has always been hard for me & has made utter nonsense through most of my schooling, so I guess I can see that.
Sort of?
However, reading it now as an adult, I have come to feel that for me, this book is about struggles of everyday life and how we interpret and make sense of those struggles.....math included!
Let's take a look at the Tweedles. Now they for the most part get along, loving to dance, tell stories, doing the "Math" of life. Contrariwise, they often also battle. They have been battling over the same thing for years! YEARS!!! Dee broke Dum's rattle (a silly rattle!) and he has never forgiven him for this act.....hmmmmm, forgiveness.
Forgiveness.
Now, that is a problem that I'm quite certain even Math cannot solve.
Forgiving your children, your lover, your boss, coworkers, friends, enemies.....
Forgiving yourself.
But also letting these things go. One minute you are dancing, one minute you are fighting. The balance of power, the internal struggle, the restoration and reduction...."The Temper" of life.

I painted the Tweedles with Borofsky's "The Dancers". These too (Two) have also caused some fight with their dance. Dancers Objection/commentary (I personally really like both The Dancers and Borofsky. The sculpture itself looks different every single time I see it).
The Dancers are really much like the Tweedles. Their relationship to each other is different every time you see them. They often appear to make nonsense in their "temper". I hope that one day we all can truly forgive each other, and mostly ourselves to really fully enjoy the dance we are doing... mind our tempers.

The Battle of the Dance (Borofsky's "The Dancers") 2015

Acrylic on canvas panel 6x6

"Let's fight till six, and then have dinner."-Tweedledum
"And if he left off dreaming about you, where do you suppose you'd be?" -Tweedledee

I suppose I should forgive & thank mathematics, for without it, I would have no Wonderland Denver series to paint.
-Cheree